The 1885 New South Wales colonial election was for 122 members representing 72 electoral districts. The election was conducted on the basis of a simple majority or first-past-the-post voting system. In this election there were 35 multi-member districts returning 85 members and 37 single member districts giving a total of 122 members. In the multi-member districts each elector could vote for as many candidates as there were vacancies. 7 districts were uncontested. There was no recognisable party structure at this election. The average number of enrolled voters per seat was 1,831, ranging from East Maitland (1,018) to Canterbury (2,630).
Election results Albury
Argyle
The sitting member Sir Henry Parkes successfully contested St Leonards.
Balmain
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
The other sitting member William Hutchinson did not contest the election.
Balranald
Bathurst
The Bogan
Boorowa
Bourke
Braidwood
Angus Cameron was a sitting member for West Sydney however he had been defeated for that seat on Tuesday 13 October.
Camden
Canterbury
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
Carcoar
The other sitting member George Campbell did not contest the election.
The Clarence
Central Cumberland
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
Durham
East Macquarie
The other sitting member Edward Combes did not contest the election.
East Maitland
East Sydney
Eden
Forbes
The Glebe
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
Glen Innes
Gloucester
Goulburn
Grafton
Grenfell
Gundagai
The sitting member James Watson did not contest the election.
Gunnedah
The Gwydir
Thomas Dangar was the sitting member for The Namoi.
Hartley
The Hastings and Manning
The Hawkesbury
The Hume
The other sitting member Leyser Levin did not contest the election.
The Hunter
Illawarra
The sitting member Alexander Stuart did not contest the election.
Inverell
Kiama
The Macleay
Molong
Monaro
The sitting members Septimus Badgery and David Ryrie did not contest the election. Thomas O'Mara was the sitting member for Tumut.
Morpeth
Mudgee
The other sitting member David Buchanan did not contest the election.
The Murray
The Murrumbidgee
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
The sitting members Auber Jones and George Loughnan did not contest the election. George Dibbs was the Premier and a member for St Leonards where he was successfully challenged by Sir Henry Parkes on Friday 16 October.
The Namoi
The sitting member Thomas Dangar unsuccessfully contested The Gwydir.
The Nepean
Newcastle
New England
The sitting member James Farnell was appointed to the Legislative Council and did not contest the election.
Newtown
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
Northumberland
Joseph Gorrick was the sitting member for Wollombi.
Orange
Paddington
Parramatta
Patrick's Plains
Queanbeyan
The sitting member George De Salis did not contest the election.
Redfern
The other sitting member Alfred Fremlin did not contest the election.
The Richmond
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
The sitting member Samuel Gray did not contest the election
Shoalhaven
South Sydney
The other sitting member John Harris did not contest the election.
St Leonards
Sir Henry Parkes was the member for Argyle who contested St Leonards to successfully challenge the Premier George Dibbs. Dibbs was returned to Parliament by successfully contesting The Murrumbidgee on Saturday 31 October.
Tamworth
Tenterfield
Tumut
The sitting member Thomas O'Mara unsuccessfully contested Monaro.
The Upper Hunter
The other sitting member John McLaughlin did not contest the election.
Wellington
Wentworth
| colspan="2" | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | (1 new seat)
West Macquarie
West Maitland
The sitting member Henry Cohen did not contest the election.
West Sydney
Wollombi
The sitting member Joseph Gorrick unsuccessfully contested Northumberland.
Yass Plains
Young
See also
Candidates of the 1885 New South Wales colonial election Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1885–1887
References